Zayn Malik’s One Direction tribute at his Mexico concert, only months after his former bandmate Liam Payne‘s tragic death, couldn’t have come at a better time. He performed 1D’s “Night Changes” in Mexico on the 10th anniversary of his departure from the boy band, catering to fans’ wishes and showing a glimmer of hope. The singer announced his exit from the group on March 25, 2015.
During his performance, which was special in more ways than one, Malik emotionally announced that he “almost cried” singing the popular song featuring Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson. The remarkable and nostalgic moment came during the singer’s gig in Mexico City on Tuesday night.
Zayn Malik pays tribute to One Direction in Mexico concert 10 years after his exit
Directioners couldn’t believe their ears when Zayn Malik sang One Direction’s “Night Changes” in an iconic tribute exactly 10 years after his exit from the boy band. He surprised the audience at his Mexico City concert on Tuesday night by performing the hit song, paying homage to his time in 1D. During his performance, the 32-year-old also paid tribute to his late friend and former bandmate, Liam Payne, who tragically died last October after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
A viral Instagram video from the gig showed Malik emotionally telling the roaring crowd, “It’s the first time I’ve sung that song in 10 years.” He then proceeded to announce how “f—ing amazing” it felt, claiming he “almost cried at one point,” and called it an “insane” experience.” Several other clips from the show exhibited the singer asking the cheering crowd to lower their voices just as he was about to sing Payne’s verse from the track.
In addition, Zayn Malik’s One Direction tribute prompted the audience at his Mexico concert to chant Liam Payne’s name in a “precious” moment. An X (former Twitter) post documented the instance as the audience screamed “Liam’s name at Zayn’s tribute.” Another post showed Malik singing his late friend’s verse when the wind moved his hair, making it an even more magical experience for everyone.
